Sarah Hope's sound advice

Sarah Hope is a local musician, writer and teacher. She moved to Colorado Springs in 1997, stepping away from Dog Tooth Violet, the band she shared with her sister. Since moving to the area, she has been in bands the Pretty Pleasers and the Goods. Her current band Edith Makes a Paperchain has been playing in the Springs for more than a decade and won the Indy award for Best Folk Band in 2011 and Pikes Peak Arts Council’s Best Folk Band in 2010. She has worked as a stage manager and coordinated music for local events such as the Pikes Peak Arts Festival and the Commonwheel Arts Festival. She is married to guitar player Matt Chmielarczyk, and has two daughters who are also songwriters.

Saturday night listening: “Mirror in the Bathroom” by The English Beat, “So Lonely” by The Police, “Work It” by Missy Elliott. These are the songs I put on if I need to get inspired to go out on the town when I actually feel like watching Netflix in pajamas.

First album I bought with my own money:Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Go’s on vinyl. We still use the record player my husband Matt Chmielarczyk grew up with, and I still worship those rock goddesses in bath towels with beauty masks on. Belinda Carlisle is eternally hot. This all-girl band inspired me to start my own band with my sister in the ’90s, Dog Tooth Violet. We covered a Go-Go’s song.

Song I wish I could unhear: “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison. Horrible. I would leave any party playing this song immediately. I’d rather drink Riunite on ice in a sad suburban basement than listen to this song.

Album more people should know about:Shitty Hits by Katie Von Schleicher. She does sickly, longing and self-loathing so elegantly with her whole-milk voice and background of echoey dry cough guitar. It’s beautiful. Also she reminds me of Suzi Quatro. From a child of the ‘70s, this is high praise.

“Wish I’d written that” song: “The Weakness in Me” by Joan Armatrading. It’s heartbreaking and brave. Also, “Satellite” by Elvis Costello and “Are you Happy Now?” by Richard Shindell, which is the best break-up song ever about being dumped on Halloween. The ex takes the candy when she leaves him, and the rejected boyfriend is left to face trick-or-treaters empty-handed. Adding insult to injury, his house gets egged, and his car covered with shaving cream. So sad. Brilliant songwriting. I would be really proud of myself if I wrote that song.